Individual-towel rack.



W. & T. L. MOCLELLAN. INDIVIDUAL TOWEL RACK.

PPLIGATION FILED JULY 7, 191s.

1,124,931.' Y` Patented Jan.12,1915,

l/Vf'f/vesses. Ine/anfang:

WILLI MQCLEN AND THOMAS LEE MCCLELLAN, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

INDVIDUAL-TOWEL RACK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VILLIAM MCCL'EL- LAN and THOMAS LEE'MCCLELLAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have-invented new and useful Improvements in Individual-Towel Racks, of which the following is a specificalit) tion.

This invention relates particularly to a rack adapted for holding a supply of indi- 'evidual towels both before and after use; and its object is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and efficient form of rack on which the towels may be easily aced and removed, and which will hold the towels in convenient position for use, allowing the soiled towels to be dropped and held separately from the fresh towels; and it is thel particular object of the invention to provide a means to hold the towels at all times against unauthorized removal.

Heretofore, one of the great objections to individual towel service has been the prevalent loss of the towels; and the practical and economic supply of individual towel service depends largely upon the use of a device which will prevent the loss gf towels, and which will at the same time provide a convenient support for the towels in use. In fulfilling this requirement, the present invention embodies the combination of a suitable stand upon which a pile of towels engaging each towel through a perforated or eyelet end. Said means preferably including a flexible vertically extending member down which the towel may drop after having been used, and upon which all the soiled towels will hang until removed. The particulars of these various features. we will explain in the following specification and the preferred forms-wil'be shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the improvedtowel rack. Fig. 2 is a detail section showing the construction of the towel holding means.

In the drawingstne numeral 10 designates a Horizontal 'shelf or base upon which a pile of towels 11 is placed. The shelf may have a back 12 constructed in any suitable manner, either in the simple form illustrated, or the back may4 embody the-astral mirror and brush and comb and soap racks, or any other conveniences which may be desired. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

rack is preferably made to hang upon the wall; but may be secured to the wall in any l Patented Jan. 12,1915...k

application mea my 7, 1913. serial No. 777,653.

preferred manner. Extending downwardly from the rear of the shelf there is a vertical member 13 which carries at its lower end a staple r1ng' or other equivalent 14 adapt'- ed for engagement by the suitable lock l5. ple and lock form the preferred means for locking the end of the flexible member 16, which is preferablyprovided in the form of a ,suitable chain. The upper. end of this chain 16 is secured to the end 17 a of a rod 17, swivelly supported in a tube or sleeve 18 substantially inthe manner illustrated. This tube or sleeve 18 is mounted in an upright position on the shelf l0, preferably through the mdium of a flange 19; and the rod 17 may project slightly below the shelf 10 as is shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of the rod 17 has a curved portion 17 h which his free to swing around the vertical portion of the rod 17 as an axis. The chain 16 hangs somewhat loosely from the end of the rod 17a; but the chain is of such length that,A when it is locked at its lower end, 'it is impossible to pull the rod 17 upwardly out of the tube 18.

The pile of individual towels is placed upon the shelf 10; and each towel has a perforation or eyelet 11 in onecorner. The towels are folded somewhat as illustrated so that each of the eyelets may be slipped over the tube 18 as shown. As the towels It will be understood that this sta-' are used they are taken one by one off thep lo er part 'of the chain. The soiled towels may be removed at any time by releasing the lock 15, when all of the towels on the chain may be readily slipped olf. By releasing the chain 16, the rod 17 may be removed from the tube 18; and then a. newlsupply of towels is easily slipped over the tube 18. The rod 17 is then released and the chain 1.6 again locked in position. j

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention supplies a simple and efficent means for supporting individual towels ready for service and for holding them after service and for preventing loss of towels. The rod 17 with its flexible rheinber 16 is the particular feature of thel oo vnf ioo I, flexible member.

bination wished to be lespecially? pointed preferred lform of our 2. In combination, a towelsupport, a vertical tube mounted upon said support over which perforated towels may be placed, a rod in said tube adapted to be removed therefrom by upward movement, the upper end of the said rod being curved laterally and downwardly, and a flexible member se-.

cured to the curved end of the said/rod and extending downwardly therefrom,' and releasable locking means for securing the lower end of'said flexible member against movementi" with respect to said ,-tube, the length of said' member being such that its lower end must be released'in order to raise 'the rod out y of the standard;

4 i 3. In combination, 4a towel support, an upright tube mounted upon said support over4 which tube perforated towelsmay be placed, a rod swivelly supported in said tube and having a curved upper end, a chain attached at its upper end to the curved end of said rod, and extending downwardly therefrom to a point vbelow the support, and releasable locking means for the lower end of the chain to secure that lower end against movement with respect to the tube, the chain being-normally loose and flexible, and Ybeing of such length as to prevent the removal of the rod from the tube.

el. 1n combination, a support, a' vertical standard permanently mounted on said support, a rigid elongate member slidable vertically with reference to said standard, said member being removable from 'said standard by upward movement Va iexible member attached. at its upper end to the upper end v of said rigid member' and depending there'- from, and releasable locking means for the lower end of the iexible member to `hold the lower end of that member in such position that said rigid -Amember may not be moved upwardly to be removed from the standard.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this BOthday of June 1913.

' WLLIAM MCCLELLAN.

THOMAS LEE MGCLELLAN. Witnesses: J. C. JONES,

ELWooD H. BARKELEW'. 

